@dougie i send a contract and ask for a retainer when I??m about 10 days out. I don??t like to hold onto people??s money for a long time. If I am further out than my estimate they tend to think it gives them the right to complain if I??m a bit longer getting to their job.
I like it; so you make that arrangement at the beginning, then, if they are still on board, you send them a contract? If not, you just make room for the next guy?
TIA
Dougie
I been doing exactly that for the past year mostly all the time. I like it. Quicky ball park estimate an the phone. When I get close I send an agreement and don't do anything until 50% is in my hand. Maybe half have already found someone else when I get back with them and I am glad they did. If they are in that big a hurry it wasn't meant to be. Of folks who have paid the retainer none of them have stuck me on the final bill. I currently have a couple of bills that I waived the retainer because of prior work or I've known them a long time. I'm still waiting on payment.?ÿ
@dougie Exactly! I??ve found that it works very well.
@mike-shepp EXACTLY!
Backlog is a problem I would love to have right now. I am in a different boat, I have been attempting to go out on my own. Still working a W2 (construction contractor)job and placing bids thru my LLC. Having moved around the past 10 years' and working for large contractors, I haven't developed the relationships with the target clientele my business could sustain in my target coverage area. I haven't went door to door yet (COVID), so using online bid sites for prospective projects. They are expensive and totally slanted to accommodate the GC's. Still making a good living, just trying to get on my own full time.?ÿ?ÿ
My problem is customers, new, old, good, bad, many get insulted and angry when I say I'm 2 to 3 months out. "If you're 2 months out, what harm is it to take one extra day and help me out". Of course it's a 3 day job.?ÿ
@eastkysurveyor what kind of survey work are you looking to do?
@hollandbriscoe I have been focusing on small to mid size commercial/industrial construction staking jobs. There is some work here in Ky. But I wouldn't say the market is booming. I plan on getting with some home builders and try to get my foot in the door on some house staking, not to proud to do some boundary work either (it is just sporadic here right now). There is a few residential developments planned, honestly I think most of my problem is my experience has been in the field, or survey management when I did work for a consulting firm. The marketing was always handled on the engineering side and the jobs that we got was to support the engineers. So, I am lacking the marketing and networking experience. I will get there though.
@flga-2-2?ÿ There is no way I could justify hiring somebody completely inexperienced for $25/hour.?ÿ My standard trainee rate is $15/hour.
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These days it seems like the whole country is one big jobsite!